What Is Accounting? Understanding the Language of Business: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Every business has a story—and accountants are the ones who help tell it.

At Northern Kentucky University’s Haile College of Business, accounting is more than just numbers, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. It’s about understanding how organizations make decisions, adapt to change, and grow stronger. Accounting gives students the tools to uncover financial truths, communicate clearly and shape the future of business.

What is Accounting: Understanding the Language of Business

The Narrative Behind the Numbers

J Human
Lecturer of Accounting

“Accounting means getting at the narrative behind the numbers,” says J. Human, accounting faculty member at Haile College of Business. “It’s not just math. It’s about how organizations and individuals grow and stay financially healthy. Accounting develops your skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail. But it’s also about flexibility. Accounting prepares you for careers in public accounting, corporate, governmental, nonprofit, small business, and even starting your own business. And if you add certifications like the CPA, your options and opportunities grow even more.”

Accounting provides a foundation for nearly every corner of the business world. Whether you’re helping a startup plan its next move or analyzing data for a Fortune 500 company, the skills you gain as an accounting student help you see the full picture — and make decisions that matter.

Accounting Today—More Than Numbers

"I'll tell you what accounting is not," says Hardik Patel, lecturer of accounting. "Accounting is not just about recording numbers. Gone are the days when we were mere bookkeepers. Today, it's all about analyzing data, obtaining insights out of it, and then using it to help businesses make smart business decisions. In my Data Analytics for Accounting course, my students are not just crunching numbers. They are utilizing technology such as Power BI and helping solve some real business problems by working with some real business clients on a client project. It's very inspiring to see that the students realizing now the fact that accounting is not just about compliance anymore, it's also about creative problem solving."

Hardik Patel, professor of Accounting at Haile College

Hardik Patel
Lecturer of Accounting

At Haile College of Business, students don’t just learn theory — they apply it. Courses like Data Analytics for Accounting integrate technology tools such as Power BI, giving students hands-on experience solving real business problems. Every accounting student also completes an internship before graduation, ensuring they enter the workforce with valuable professional experience and confidence.

💡 Did You Know?

Every Accounting student at the Haile College of Business completes a hands-on internship before graduation.

This experiential learning prepares students not only to understand data but to turn it into action — a skill every organization needs in today’s fast-changing world.

Developing Future Leaders

Dr. Lee Kersting
Chair of the Accounting Department

“Accounting is changing,” says Dr. Lee Kersting, Chair of the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance. “Here in the Haile College of Business, we focus on developing students not only from a technical aspect, but also as professionals, how to be a member of a team, how to be a leader, how to understand yourself and how you fit within a culture and within a company. And so we'll focus on things like client-based projects in our data analytics class while also focusing on the technical skills."

That philosophy goes beyond the classroom. Students participate in client-based projects, join professional organizations, and have opportunities to study abroad. These experiences build leadership, teamwork, and confidence — preparing Haile graduates to succeed in every setting.

For Students and Parents

For Students

As an accounting major at Haile College of Business, you’ll learn how to analyze information, solve complex problems and communicate insights that make a difference. You’ll use technology to explore the financial side of business and gain skills that open doors across industries—from auditing and consulting to analytics and entrepreneurship.

No matter your career goals, an accounting degree gives you the clarity and confidence to make your mark.

For Parents

Accounting remains one of the most stable and respected career paths. Employers continue to seek out accounting graduates for their expertise, ethics, and reliability. With every Haile College of Business accounting student completing an internship and building professional connections before graduation, you can feel confident that your student will be prepared for a successful, rewarding career.

Explore Accounting at Haile College of Business

Ready to see where accounting can take you?

Schedule a visit to the Haile College of Business and explore how our accounting program prepares students for meaningful careers in a changing business world.

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What Is Accounting? Understanding the Language of Business